Juan Soto ends slump with thunderous two-run double vs Dodgers
Sparks Mets comeback win amid week-long NYC media firestorm
Soto raises average and silences critics with Citi Field roaring
Mets bounce back from tough loss in 13-inning Game 1
Brett Baty posts three-hit, two-RBI night in support
Luis Torrens, Francisco Lindor, Starling Marte set the table
David Peterson dominates with 7 2/3 innings and strikes out Ohtani three times
Soto’s controversial start takes a hard turn toward redemption
Soto’s Moment: A Loud Answer to a Week of Whispered Doubt
New York was buzzing all week.
Did Juan Soto make the wrong move?
Was he cracking under pressure?
Was the $765 million deal a mistake?
Those questions were flying around sports radio and headlines like pigeons at Penn Station. But on Saturday night, Juan Soto crushed all that noise with one unforgettable swing.
In a game that the Mets had to win—and on a night when Soto needed to deliver—the superstar finally roared.
Facing Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin with the bases loaded, Soto launched a laser off the right-center wall for a two-run double. Citi Field exploded. Fans who had been booing just days earlier? Now they were bowing.
This was the Juan Soto Mets moment.
Under Fire, Under Pressure… Then Boom!
Soto wasn’t just slumping. He was under a microscope on fire.
Five hits in 42 chances with runners in scoring position? Critics were howling. And when he didn’t hustle on a long ball at Fenway earlier in the week, the debate turned into a media wildfire.
Where was the Soto Shuffle? Where was the joy? Where was the production?
Turns out, all of it was right there—waiting for the right moment.
Soto stepped in with the game tied 2-2 in the fourth inning. Bases loaded. Two outs. A 2-2 count. The crowd held its breath.
Then came the swing. A 399-foot bullet that missed being a grand slam by just two feet, rocketing off the wall at 108.3 mph.
Mets 4, Dodgers 2.
Game changed. Season possibly changed.
Mets Fans Finally See Their Star Shine
As the ball clanged off the wall and runners raced home, Citi Field exploded with emotion. Fans who had doubted suddenly believed again.
The cheers weren’t just for a big hit—they were for redemption.
Soto had gone 1 for his last 24 with runners in scoring position. He hadn’t hit an extra-base shot in two weeks. But on this night, he looked every bit the MVP-caliber slugger Mets brass invested in.
Even Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had to admit: “You could see him bearing down a little more when guys are on base.”
Baty Breaks Out, Mets Offense Wakes Up
While Soto stole headlines, Brett Baty played Robin to his Batman.
The young infielder went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, including a second-inning single that put the Mets on the board. Baty’s growing confidence has been a key undercurrent in this Mets lineup, especially as veterans like Lindor and Marte have started slow.
Luis Torrens got it started with a single. Gonsolin then walked Baty and Lindor on eight straight pitches. Marte tied the game with an infield single that didn’t leave the dirt.
Then came Soto. Then came electricity.
David Peterson Owns the Moment—and Ohtani
Lost in the Soto excitement was a gem of a start from David Peterson.
The Mets lefty went 7 2/3 strong innings, allowing just five hits and two runs. He induced three double plays, kept the ball down, and owned the strike zone.
Oh, and he struck out Shohei Ohtani three times.
That’s the stuff that earns standing ovations—especially in New York.
“He made it look human,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. And against a lineup that features Ohtani and Freeman, that’s no small feat.
Soto’s Redemption Arc: From Booed to Beloved
New York doesn’t hand out forgiveness easily. But when you deliver in the biggest moments? Everything changes fast.
Just a week ago, Soto was being called out for his body language. His lack of hustle. The missing swagger.
But Saturday night, it was all there—the bat speed, the confidence, the Soto Shuffle. His post-hit reaction said it all: hands raised, a smile finally free of weight, a glance to the dugout like, told you so.
After the game, Soto was calm. “I don’t listen to any of that. I focus on what we’re doing here.”
But make no mistake—he heard the noise. And he answered in the loudest way possible.
Not Just a Win—A Turning Point?
The Mets didn’t just win. They won big in the ways that matter most:
- Soto delivered under pressure
- The offense picked up steam
- The rotation looked strong
- The crowd reengaged
After dropping Game 1 in 13 innings, the Mets could have spiraled. Instead, they fought back behind their biggest star, sent a message to the Dodgers, and reminded baseball that this team isn’t folding.
Now sitting at 28-22, the Mets have a shot to build momentum with Soto heating up.
Next Stop: Soto Must Stay Hot
This was one game. One swing. One roar of redemption.
But now the challenge is to make it the start of something, not just a one-night miracle.
The Mets know they’ll only go as far as Soto can take them. And with Francisco Lindor still looking to find his groove, and Pete Alonso streaky, Soto must lead the charge.
The schedule doesn’t get easier. Another game with the Dodgers. A series with the Braves on the horizon. New York will need Soto to bring this fire night after night.
If he does? The $765 million might suddenly start to look like a bargain.
Final Word: New York Belongs to Soto Now
Saturday night wasn’t just about a win. It was about a city reclaiming its faith.
Juan Soto crossed town for a fortune. He was supposed to be the face of the Mets’ next era. And for weeks, he wore that pressure like a boulder.
But in one swing, in one game, with one sound of the bat, he reminded everyone who he is.
Juan Soto Mets stardom has officially begun. Buckle up, New York.
